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People
Garhwal resembles other parts of the
Himalayas where various ethnic groups
live side by side. Following chiefly the
agrarian-pastoral way of life, native
Garhwalis make their living from the
hilly land the best they can. Some, like
the Bhotia traders, migrate far and
wide, although the ancient trade routes
with Tibet have been closed since 1950.
Most of the indigenous people like Jaunsari, Bhotia, Buksha, Tharu, and
Raji are heterodox Hindus and Buddhists,
while Sikh migrants from West Punjab
have settled in the lowlands since 1947.
A few Muslim groups are also native to
the area, although most of them have
settled recently. The Muslim Gujjar
herders also migrate to the hills.
Culture
The inhabitants of the Kumaon hills are
commonly known as the Kumaonese. They
belong to a predominantly patriarchal
society, which recognizes the
superiority of men over women. The
social structure is based on the
extended family system, the eldest male
member being the head of the family.
Women are respected in society but they
usually confine themselves to household
activities. No religious ceremony is
considered complete without the wife
joining the husband. Women also work in
the fields and forests alongside the
men. In Kumaon, bigamy or polygamy has
religious sanctions but polyandry is
prohibited. Widow marriage and
re-marriage by divorced women is
permitted except in certain sections of
high-caste Brahmins and Rajputs. Child
marriage is still practiced in all
classes of society despite legal
restrictions on it. It has all but
disappeared from the educated society.
Wildlife
From thick sub-tropical forests to the
dry alpine vegetation, Himachal home to
a wide variety of animals. This includes
the leopard, which is the most widely
distributed mammal in the entire state,
the snow leopard, ghoral (goat-like
stout animal), musk deer which is the
state animal and monal (a pretty bird in
nine iridescent colours), the state
bird. HP has 11 major national parks and
sanctuaries - the largest number in the
Himalayan region. The Great Himalayan
National Park in Kullu - the first in
the state - was created to conserve the
flora and fauna of the main Himalayan
range, while the Pin Valley National
Park to conserve the flora and fauna of
the cold desert.
Flora & Fauna
The world famous Valley of Flowers is
situated in the upper expansions of
Bhyundar Ganga in the far interiors of
the Garhwal Himalayas. Almost 300
species of wild flowers bloom here. Some
of the species are: Anemone, Geranium,
Marsh Marigold, Prinula, Potentilla,
Geum, Asters, Lilium, Ranunculus,
Corydalis, Inula, Braham Kamal,
Campanula, Pedicularis, Arisaema, Morina,
Impatiens, Bistorta, Ligularia,
Anaphalis, Saxifragus, Sibbaldia,
Thermopsis, Trollius, Codonopsis,
Dactylorhiza, Cypripedium, Strawberry,
Epilobium, Rhododendron. Most of the
flowers have medicinal value too. The
valley remains in bloom for three months
while its' floral composition keeps
changing every few days. By September,
the hue starts changing and the entire
vegetation remains dormant for the next
five months when the valley is snow
bound. Apart from the flowers, some
species of butterfly, musk deer, blue
sheep (bharal), himalayan bear,
himalayan mouse hare and snow leopards
are also found in this area. It was
declared a National Park in 1982.
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